Mozambique: National Value Chain & Business Plan Specialist

Dec 13, 2021 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.

The FAO sub-regional office for Southern Africa (SFS) has been supporting a number of interventions linked to the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC). The SWIOFC Nairobi Convention partnership project (SWIOFC-NC PP) also entitled ''A Partnership for Marine, Coastal Governance, and Fisheries Management for Sustainable Blue Growth'', will support through the SWIOFC and Nairobi Convention (NC) and its countries, collaboration between fisheries and environment sectors. The project has three components/outcomes: i) Resilience of livelihoods based on WIO marine and coastal ecosystem and habitats enhanced; ii) Coastal fisheries are sustainably managed using the ecosystem approach to fisheries; and iii) Coordination between fisheries and environmental management institutions enhanced at national and regional levels.

Mozambique has been selected as one of the three countries to implement pilot projects, on which lessons learnt will be shared with the wider region. In order to achieve the project objectives, two sites have been selected – Maputo Bay and Limpopo River Mouth to implement demonstration activities involving coastal and fisheries communities. As part of the project inception phase, a baseline study was carried out in Maputo Bay (Machangulo, Inhaca, Ka-Tembe, Macaneta and Muntanhane) and Limpopo River Mouth (Zongoene and Mahilene), in a view to, among others, collect preliminary socio-economic and gender-related data.

As part of Component 2, Output 2.1. on Livelihood support (activities 2.1.1 up to 2.1.5) in liaison with Component 1, Output 1.4. on Climate Change adaptation for coastal communities, the project seeks to identify necessary interventions for livelihood support of youth, women and men as part of the strategy for climate change adaptation and trade-off in the implementation fisheries management plans compliant with the EAF, as well as reinforcing critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions in the area.

Technical Focus

The main purpose of the consultancy is:

  • To analyse and identify potential approaches for improving value chains and developing alternative livelihood for women, youth and men in coastal fishing communities to address trade-offs in the implementation EAF fisheries management plans and critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions, and to adapt potential climate change impacts;
  • To develop feasibility analysis, business plans and operational plans for selected livelihood interventions to be piloted in the target communities.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant will coordinate and deliver a participatory study and practically support opportunities for, design business plans improved and alternative livelihoods in targeted communities in support of the implementation EAF fisheries management plans, critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions, and climate change adaptation. He will undertake the following duties:

  • Collect primary and secondary data relevant for the study;
  • Undertake consultations with target communities, local authorities and relevant stakeholders;
  • Facilitate a workshop / training to discuss results of the activities and options for future work with communities in the implementation of the pilot operations for new/improved products and services;
  • Describe the socio-economic context of the coastal communities and existing value chains in the project sites – Maputo Bay and Limpopo River Mouth, including the source of livelihoods and (existing and potential) use of natural resources, including succinct value chain analysis identifying bottlenecks and feasible options for improvement of the value chain structures;
  • Identify possible new/improved products along the value chain structure (capture, handling and processing, trade, consumption) or services that can provide benefits to youth, women and men in small-scale fishing communities, and marketing strategies;
  • Identify and assess the potential of new/alternative livelihoods not already established in the community;
  • Contribute a gender and youth needs assessment along the fisheries value chain and external to it in the selected communities in the project sites;
  • In consultation with the local community and key stakeholders, identify and design necessary interventions for value chain and livelihood support of youth, women and men, on the basis of the analyses, considering as a strategy for climate change adaptation and trade-off in the implementation fisheries management plans compliant with the EAF, as well as reinforcing critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions in the area;
  • Carry out adequate economic, financial and technical feasibility and sustainability (environmental and social) analyses of the different livelihood/income options proposed;
  • Develop business plans and propose financing modalities for the pilot operations for new/improved products and services considering the social context and the feasibility of the plan within the local considerations;
  • Organize workshops, 1 in each of the 6 communities involved in to the project, to discuss results of the activities and options for future work with communities in the implementation of the pilot operations for new/improved products and services (workshops or consultations ion the project sites require clear community engagement).
  • Outline a monitoring and evaluation framework for assessment of the success of pilot operations (baseline, indicators, etc.);
  • Develop training programs for the target focus groups in the communities involved in the project implementation;
  • Develop materials for training and support to business plan implementation in pilots;
  • Prepare and submit a report of the value chain analysis, recommended livelihood interventions and business plans for review by the project team and endorsement of the proposed options by the local authorities and communities;
  • Prepare a policy brief highlighting key results from the livelihoods analysis and pilot initiation;
  • Collaboration with other SDAE, IDEPA, MIMAIP, MTA and Nairobi Convention partners and different projects to be reflected in the discussion with the communities.

Candidates will be assessed against the following:

Minimum Requirements

  • Education in rural development and economics, natural resources economics, business management, and/or related fields;
  • At least five (5) years of working experience rural development or related field in Mozambique (or in other countries of the Western Indian Ocean), preferably in the area of small-scale fisheries/coastal livelihoods development and related disciplines;
  • Fluency in Portuguese and English;
  • Fluency in local languages spoken at the project sites are an advantage.
  • Nationality of Mozambique or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

Technical/Functional Skills

  • Experience in rural business development;
  • Experience working on gender related studies;
  • Experience in the analysis of value chain in isolated coastal communities and development if successful business plans with consideration to the local context;
  • Knowledge of coastal livelihoods development analysis tools and approaches, in particular value chain analysis;
  • Proven experience in research and report writing in English and Portuguese;
  • Proven experience in facilitating interactive trainings and community consultations will be an advantage.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

Additional Information

  • FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
  • Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
  • For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

How to Apply


To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.


Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org